The event brought together more than 700 participants from all over the world, including representatives of national and local governments, research and academic institutions, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), urban planners, urban foresters, arborists, landscape architects and designers and professionals from many other sectors.

The game, Build your city forest: Create a greener, healthier and happier world, was developed in collaboration with the Danish-based educational gaming company, Build A World EDU (BAW) and a free version has been launched for use in classrooms. BAW develops scenario-based learning games that challenge students to solve real-world problems while developing 21st century learning skills.

The scenario-based learning game, pre-teens can try their hand at building a better world in the classroom — one based on a deeper understanding of the ways in which forests and trees can make our cities greener, healthier and happier places to live.

Teachers run scenarios in a week long program in this virtual world that challenges students to work in teams to solve problems together, think critically, pool knowledge, apply their imaginations, and experiment.

“Teaching children about the many benefits of trees and forests, particularly in cities, is critical,” said Simone Borelli. “This learning game will raise awareness among today’s children of the sustainable use and conservation of forests and will encourage the young adults of tomorrow to make responsible decisions about the environment, an essential step to safeguarding natural resources for future generations.”